Harbison ABRAHAM (FOR DOUBLE CHORUS AND STRINGS)

John Harbison

ABRAHAM sacred motet for string nonet and double choir

From the G. Schirmer Rental Library Date of Printing________________

Associated Music Publishers, Inc. New York, NY

John Harbison

ABRAHAM sacred motet for string nonet and double choir

The original version of Abraham, for double brass choir and double choir was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra with the generous support of the Knights of Columbus Premiered at The Concert of Reconciliation in the presence of His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 17 January, 2004 performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Brass, the London Philharmonic Choir, The Krakow Philharmonic Choir, the Ankara Polyphonic Choir, and members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, under the direction of Sir Gilbert Levine KCSG in the Aula Paolo VI/Sala Nervi The Vatican The 2018 re-orchestration of Abraham was written for Emmanuel Music

Associated Music Publishers, Inc. New York, NY

Instrumentation:

String Quintet Violin Ia Violin IIa Viola a Violoncello a Contrabass

String Quartet Violin Ib Violin IIb Viola b Violoncello b

2 SATB Choirs Genesis 17: And when Abraham was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said unto him, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect… and thou shalt be a father of many nations”.

The Vatican is both ancient and very modern. As I worked toward this piece, issues familiar to Palestrina mingled with speed of light communication. Just a few weeks before the performance of Abraham, Pope John Paul II issued a chirography on sacred music that affirms the continuing importance of Gregorian chant in the composition of new works.

Abraham reflects this conjunction of the ancient and the new. The Old Testament text was chosen by a present-day committee including the Pope himself, his close associates, and Sir Gilbert Levine, conductor-architect of the concert. The committee listened to a number of motets I had composed for the Emmanuel Choir in Boston, and their reactions influenced the particular combination of old and new elements present in the piece: triadic harmony of an especially ancient cast, fused with recent formal and rhythmic concepts.

Abraham is constructed to embody musically what is necessary culturally and politically; the contemporary melding of ancient traditions is the essential first step toward peace in the twenty-first century. John Paul II, whose views on theological issues were conservative, remained steadfastly radical in his pacifism. In his address at the conclusion of the concert he emphasized points of congruency between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity: veneration for the Patriarch Abraham, and the resurrection of the dead.

“Nourished by these convictions,” he maintained, “Jews, Muslims, and Christians cannot accept that the earth be afflicted by hatred or that humanity be overwhelmed by endless wars.”

It was a privilege to offer Abraham for the Papal Concert of Reconciliation in January 2004.

In December 2018 I made a reduction, for practical purposes, from the original large symphonic brass section to string nonet, for performance by Emmanuel Music on April 27, 2019.

—John Harbison March 2019 duration ca. 6’ First performance: Concert of Reconciliation, The Vatican, Rome, Italy - January 17, 2004 The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Ankara State Polyphonic Choir Krakow Philharmonic Choir London Philharmonic Choir Members of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh Maestro Gilbert Levine, KCSG, Conductor

Dedicated to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in honor of his pontificate-long dedication to fostering reconciliation among the peoples of Abraham: Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and with deep gratitude to Maestro Sir Gilbert Levine KCSG, for his 15–year–long creative collaboration with His Holiness, which led to the great honor of this commission.

ABRAHAM Con moto, drammatico

John Harbison

= 108

sostenuto Soprano

And

when,

And when,

sostenuto

Choir I

Alto

And

And when,

when,

sostenuto Tenor 8

And

when,

And when,

sostenuto Bass

And

And when,

when, sostenuto

Soprano

And

when,

And

when

And

when

And

when

And

when

sostenuto

Choir II

Alto

And

when,

sostenuto Tenor 8

And

when,

sostenuto Bass

And

Con moto, drammatico

when,

= 108

Violin Ia

String Quintet

Violin IIa

Viola a

Violoncello a

Contrabass

String Quartet

Violin Ib

Violin IIb

Viola b

Violoncello b

Copyright © 2004 by Associated Music Publishers (BMI) New York, NY This version Copyright © 2019 by Associated Music Publishers (BMI) New York, NY International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

Warning: Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited by Federal law and subject to criminal prosecution.

Property of:

G. Schirmer Rental Library Old Rte. 17, Chester, NY 10918 SUPPLIED ON LOAN ONLY

2

Tranquillo 8

semplice

S

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

semplice A

A

bra ham, semplice

T 8

A

bra ham, semplice

B

A

bra ham, semplice

S

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

semplice A

A

bra ham, semplice

T 8

A

bra ham, semplice

B

A

Tranquillo Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

bra ham,

3

14 S

ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

A

T 8

B

S

A

bra ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

A

bra ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

A

bra ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

A

bra ham

was

nine ty years old and nine,

A

T 8

B

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

4 Drammatico

20 S

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

The

Lord

ap peared

to

A bra ham,

the

Lord

ap peared

to

A

T 8

B

S

A

T 8

B

Drammatico pizz.

0 0

Vn. Ia

pizz.

0 0

Vn. IIa

pizz.

Va. a

Vc. a

pizz.

arco

Cb.

pizz.

Vn. Ib

pizz.

arco

pizz.

arco

pizz.

Vn. IIb

pizz.

Va. b

pizz.

Vc. b

arco

pizz.

5

rit.

25

A tempo, misterioso

S

A bra ham

and

said

un to

him,

rit.

A

A bra ham

and

said

un to

him,

rit.

T 8

A bra ham

and

said

un to

him,

rit.

B

A bra ham

and

said

un to

him,

I

am

the Al might

y

rit.

S

A bra ham

and

said

un to

him,

rit.

A

A bra ham

and

said

un to

him,

and

said

un to

him,

I

am

the Al might

y

and

said

un to

him,

I

am

the Al might

y

rit.

T 8

A bra ham

rit.

B

A bra ham

arco

A tempo, misterioso

rit.

Vn. Ia

arco Vn. IIa

arco Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

arco Vn. IIb

arco Va. b

arco Vc. b

6

30 S

I

am the Al might

y

God,

A

I

am

the Al might

y

God,

I

am

the Al might

y

God,

T 8

B

God,

I

am

the

Al might

y

S

I

am the Al might

y

God,

am the Al might

y

God,

A

I

am

the Al

might

y

God, I

T 8

God,

I

am

the

Al might

y

God,

I

am

the

Al might

y

B

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

arco Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

7 rit.

33

a tempo

cantabile

S

I

am

the Al might y

God;

rit.

Walk

a tempo

be fore me,

walk

cantabile

A

I

am

the Al might y

God;

rit.

Walk

a tempo

be

fore me,

walk

be

cantabile

T 8

I

am

the Al might y

God;

rit.

a tempo Walk

be fore me,

walk

be fore me

cantabile

B

God, I

am

the Al might y

God;

rit.

Walk

be

fore me,

a tempo

walk

be

fore me,

and

cantabile

S

I amthe Al might y

God;

rit.

Walk

a tempo

be fore me,

walk

cantabile

A

I amthe Al might y

God;

a tempo

rit.

Walk

be

fore me,

walk

be

cantabile

T 8

God, I

am

the Al might y

God;

rit.

a tempo

Walk

be fore me,

walk

be fore me

cantabile

B

God, I

am

rit.

the Al might y

God;

Walk

be

fore me,

walk

be

fore me,

and

a tempo

Vn. Ia

cantabile Vn. IIa

cantabile Va. a

cantabile Vc. a

cantabile Cb.

Vn. Ib

cantabile Vn. IIb

cantabile Va. b

cantabile Vc. b

cantabile

8

39 S

be fore me

and be thou

per

fect,

walk

be fore me,

walk

be fore me

A

fore me

and

be thou per

fect,

walk

be

fore me,

walk

be

fore me,

and

T 8

and be thou

per

fect,

walk

be fore me

walk

be fore me

and be thou

B

be thou per

fect,

walk

be

fore me

walk

be

fore me,

and

be thou per

S

be fore me

and be thou

per

fect,

walk

be fore me,

walk

be fore me

A

fore me

and

be thou per

fect,

walk

be

fore me,

walk

be

fore me,

and

T 8

and be thou

per

fect,

walk

be fore me

walk

be fore me

and be thou

B

be thou per

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

fect,

walk

be

fore me

walk

be

fore me,

and

be thou per

9 dim.

46 S

and be thou

per

fect, be thou

per

fect.

dim.

A

be thou per

fect,

be thou per

fect.

T 8

per

fect,

and be thou dim.

B

fect,

and

be thou per

dim.

S

and be thou

per

fect, be thou

per

fect.

dim.

A

be thou per

fect,

be thou per

fect.

T 8

per

fect,

and be thou dim.

B

fect,

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

and

be thou per

10

53

Più animato

= 120

Più animato

= 120

S

A

dim.

T 8

per

fect.

B

fect.

S

A

dim.

T 8

per

fect.

B

fect.

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

11

59 Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

64 Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

12

68 Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

73 Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

13

78 Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

pizz.

Vc. a

pizz.

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

rit.

83 Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

arco Vc. a

arco

pizz.

Cb.

Vn. Ib

0

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

14

Tempo I ( = 108)

(rit.)

88 S

And when

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

The

And when

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

The

And when

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

The

And when

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

The

(rit.)

A

(rit.)

T 8

(rit.)

B

(rit.)

S

And when

A

bra

ham

was

nine

ty

years

old

and

nine,

And when

A

bra

ham

was

nine

ty

years

old

and

nine,

And when

A

bra

ham

was

nine

ty

years

old

and

nine,

And when

A

bra

ham

was

nine

ty

years

old

and

nine,

(rit.)

A

(rit.)

T 8

(rit.)

B

(rit.)

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

Tempo I ( = 108)

15 cedendo 93

Poco meno mosso

= 100

marc.

S

Lord

ap peared

to

A

bra ham

and

said un

to him,

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

cedendo

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

cedendo

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

I

am

the Al

might

y God;

cedendo marc.

A

Lord

ap peared

to

A

bra ham

and

said un

to him,

cedendo marc.

T 8

Lord

ap peared

to

A

bra ham

and

said un

to him,

cedendo marc.

B

Lord

ap peared

to

A

bra ham

and

said un

to him,

cedendo S

A

T 8

cedendo B

cedendo Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

Poco meno mosso

= 100

16 Con anima

98

dim.

cresc.

S

Walk

fore

be

me,

walk,

and

be

thou

per

cresc.

dim.

A

Walk

be

fore me,

walk

be fore me,

walk,

and be thou

per

fect, be thou

cresc.

dim.

T 8

be

Walk

fore

me,

walk,

be

fore me

and

be

thou

per

cresc.

dim.

B

Walk

be

fore

me and

be thou per

fect,

and

be

thou

per

fect and

be thou per

dim.

cresc.

S

be

Walk

fore

me,

walk,

and

be

thou

per

cresc.

dim.

A

Walk

be

fore me,

walk

be fore me,

walk,

and be thou

per

fect, be thou

cresc.

dim.

T 8

be

Walk

fore

me,

walk,

be

fore me

and

be

thou

per

cresc.

dim.

B

Walk

be

fore

me and

be thou per

fect,

and

be

thou

per

fect and

be

thou per

Con anima Vn. Ia

cresc.

dim.

cresc.

dim.

Vn. IIa

Va. a

cresc.

dim.

Vc. a

cresc.

dim.

cresc.

dim.

Cb.

Vn. Ib

cresc.

dim.

Vn. IIb

cresc.

dim.

Va. b

cresc.

dim.

Vc. b

cresc.

dim.

17

105

Tempo primo, risoluto

cedendo

(dim.)

S

fect.

And

cedendo

(dim.)

A

per

fect.

And

cedendo

(dim.)

T 8

fect,

per

fect.

And

cedendo

(dim.)

B

fect,

per

cedendo

(dim.)

And

fect.

cresc.

S

fect.

And thou shalt

cedendo

(dim.)

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

cresc.

A

per

fect.

And thou shalt

cedendo

(dim.)

cresc.

T 8

fect,

per

fect.

And thou shalt

cedendo

(dim.)

cresc.

B

fect,

per

fect.

cedendo

And thou shalt

Tempo primo, risoluto

Vn. Ia

(dim.)

Vn. IIa

(dim.)

Va. a

(dim.)

Vc. a

(dim.)

Cb.

(dim.)

Vn. Ib

(dim.)

cresc.

Vn. IIb

cresc.

Va. b

cresc.

Vc. b

cresc.

18

110

cresc.

cresc.

S

thou shalt

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

And thou shalt

be

a

fa

a

fa

a

fa

a

fa

a

fa

a

fa

a

fa

a

fa

cresc.

cresc.

A

thou shalt

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

And thou shalt

cresc.

be cresc.

T 8

thou shalt

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

And thou shalt

cresc.

be cresc.

B

thou shalt

be

a

fa

ther

of man y

na

tions,

And thou shalt

be cresc.

S

And thou shalt

be cresc.

A

And thou shalt

be cresc.

T 8

And thou shalt

be cresc.

B

And thou shalt

be

Vn. Ia

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

cresc.

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

cresc.

Vn. Ib

cresc.

Vn. IIb

cresc.

Va. b

cresc.

Vc. b

cresc.

19 a tempo 115 (cresc.)

allarg.

S

ther (cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

a tempo

allarg.

A

ther (cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

A

bra ham,

a tempo

allarg.

T 8

ther (cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

A

bra ham,

a tempo

allarg.

B

ther

(cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

A

bra ham,

a tempo

allarg.

S

ther (cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

a tempo

allarg.

A

ther (cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

a tempo

allarg.

T 8

ther (cresc.)

of man y

na

tions.

a tempo

allarg.

B

ther

of man y

allarg.

Vn. Ia

(cresc.)

Vn. IIa

(cresc.)

Va. a

(cresc.)

Vc. a

(cresc.)

Cb.

(cresc.)

Vn. Ib

(cresc.)

Vn. IIb

(cresc.)

Va. b

(cresc.)

Vc. b

(cresc.)

na

tions.

a tempo

20

121 S

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

T 8

ham,

ham,

B

S

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra ham,

A

bra

A

T 8

B

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b

21

127 S

A

bra

ham.

A

bra

ham.

A

bra

ham.

A

bra

ham.

ham,

A

bra

ham.

ham,

A

bra

ham.

ham,

A

bra

ham.

ham,

A

bra

ham.

A

T 8

B

S

A

T 8

B

Vn. Ia

Vn. IIa

Va. a

Vc. a

Cb.

Vn. Ib

Vn. IIb

Va. b

Vc. b